Dodgers First Baseman Freddie Freeman Enters The Transfer Portal….

Reports claiming that the talented pitcher Roki Sasaki has reached an agreement with the Dodgers were strongly criticized by his representative.
Whispers are spreading about Japanese free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki, prompting certain front-office executives to shed light on the situation.

There are officials who speculate that Sasaki might have a casual arrangement to join the Los Angeles Dodgers.

According to Joel Wolfe from Wasserman, Sasaki’s agent, that statement is completely inaccurate.
According to The Athletic, some of these rumors have been informally passed on to the commissioner’s office by executives, and the Dodgers’ top brass is also knowledgeable about them.

On Wednesday, Wolfe refuted the accusation.

Wolfe expressed to The Athletic his disappointment with a group of executives who, despite their familiarity with him and extensive business dealings, questioned his integrity by suggesting he would engage in a dubious agreement. He emphasized that this behavior simply reflects bad sportsmanship.

The rumor was quickly dismissed by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred during a direct inquiry at the league’s headquarters in New York City.

“When asked about the funds the Dodgers had set aside in their 2024 pool, Manfred shared a tip from his media training: to avoid responding to inquiries that hint at doubts, ensuring a smooth navigation through the conversation,” he explained. “Only one point of clarification.” It seems likely that the signing will take place during the upcoming pool period due to the timing of events. That is quite a noteworthy detail.

“However, we will wait and see what unfolds in that situation.” Should there be any suspicion of a breach of our regulations, be confident that we will conduct a comprehensive inquiry to uncover the truth.

In March, the league prohibited “working agreements” between MLB teams and the four officially recognized foreign leagues: the premier circuits in China, Korea, Japan, and Mexico.

Speculation about the Dodgers potentially breaking rules in their efforts to sign Sasaki persists, but no verified reports have surfaced. Earlier this month, Dallas Keuchel, a former winner of the Cy Young Award and a teammate of Sasaki at Chiba Lotte this year, mentioned to the New York Post that he had heard some rumors about a finalized agreement with the Dodgers, indicating that they had a strategy in place for him.

“Manfred mentioned on Wednesday that there were certain things, such as sharing information, that were completely acceptable.” The worry about these agreements arises when, for instance, the American club is granted special access to players under their control, enabling them to increase the quantity of players they manage. We have always been meticulous in ensuring that those are not permitted.